IC card with keyboard for prestoring transaction data

ABSTRACT

An IC card transaction system is disclosed in which at least a portion of the data required to complete a transaction processing is stored in the card by a customer in advance of transaction processing. An automatic transaction processing unit reads the transaction data stored in the card, checks to determine what transaction data, if any, which is required for the processing of the transaction is not stored in the card and, if necessary, receives from the customer any additional data which was not previously stored in the card and which is required to complete a transaction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/181,716,filed Apr. 14, 1988, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,788 which is acontinuation in part of Ser. No. 07/055,258 filed May 29, 1987,abandoned, which is a continuation in part of Ser. No. 06/711,818 filedon Mar. 14, 1985 and which is abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an IC (integrated circuit) card and toa financial transaction processing system using the IC card. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an IC card which is capable ofstoring, a part or all of the financial transaction data which is usedto carry out a financial transaction at an automatic transactionprocessing unit. A user conducts at least a portion of the operationswhich are normally conducted by the user at the automatic transactionprocessing unit at the IC card itself, in advance of a visit to theautomatic transaction processing unit. Thus, data necessary for atransaction with a financial institution such as a bank or creditcompany can be at least partially or entirely entered in the IC cardprior to visiting the automatic transaction processing unit, therebyreducing the time required at an automatic transaction processing unitto complete the processing of a transaction.

2. Description of the Prior Art

At present, magnetic cards such as so-called cash cards and credit cardshave been widely used for payments, deposits, transfers and the likefinancial transactions through an on line system at a financialinstitution such as a bank or a credit company. Data for identifying acustomer, such as a secret number, or other identifying data, ismagnetically stored on the card. When a transaction is to be performed,a customer visits an automatic transaction processing unit, typicallylocated at a bank or other convenient location, with his card. The cardis then inserted into an automatic transaction processing unit such asan automatic teller machine (ATM) or a cash dispenser (CD) installed atthe bank or other location. At the automatic transaction processing unitthe customer enters into the unit data necessary for a transaction suchas the secret number, the kind of transaction desired, and a transactionamount. This data is entered by operating data entry means such as akeyboard in accordance with predetermined procedures. Such automatictransaction processing units have become widely known and are operateddirectly by the customers as on line terminal units. A single automatictransaction processing unit is typically now capable of performing awide variety of transactions such as deposit and withdrawal processing,balance inquiries, bank book entries, and transfer transactions inaddition to payment processing. As a consequences, users are nowrequired to perform an increased number of operations for eachtransaction such as the selection of the kind of transaction, amount,the various accounts among and to which funds are being transferred,etc., resulting in the time required per transaction being increased.

Moreover, the transactions themselves are becoming more complex, evenwith advanced automatic transaction processing units, and inexperiencedcustomers may fall to complete all of the desired transaction processingoperations by themselves. As a consequence, the operating efficiency ofautomatic transaction processing units has been lowered and it is oftennow necessary to provide assistance to a customer operating such a unit.

In addition, a conventional magnetic card and systems employing the sameare sometimes subjected to unauthorized use through theft, loss and thelike. This unauthorized are usually occurs at an automatic transactionprocessing unit such as an ATM or CD where there is no person inattendance. Of course, even with an unauthorized use of the automatictransaction processing units, a secret number must be known to theunauthorized user, but it is sometimes possible to decode theinformation stored on the conventional magnetic card since the secretnumber of a user tends to comprise a code with which the user isfamiliar such as a birth date, telephone number, or the like.Consequently, an unauthorized user, familiar with a customer possessinga valid card, might be able to assume the secret number.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is designed to solve the foregoing problems.

In one aspect of the invention, the user's card is in the form of anintegrated circuit (IC) card which includes necessary processing andstorage means to enable the user to conduct at least a portion of thedata entry and transaction processing procedures necessary to operate anautomatic transaction processing unit at the IC card itself, prior tothe user visiting the automatic transaction processing unit. Thetransaction processing data is entered by the user into the IC card.Then, the IC card is inserted into the automatic transaction processingunit and the processing unit possesses a particular transaction on thebasis of data which is read from the IC card in place of data whichwould otherwise be entered by the user through the keyboard at theautomatic transaction processing unit. Each individual user can entertransaction processing data in advance into his own IC card and cantherefore effect a reliable input operation, without being restricted bytime at the automatic transaction processing unit.

Thus, with the invention, the user is able to conduct at least a portionor the transaction processing operations, which have heretofore beenperformed entirely at the automatic transaction processing unit, at theIC card itself which has an entry means for entering transaction data.The data may enter all of the financial transaction data necessary for atransaction into the IC card or, may enter only a portion of the datanecessary for a transaction, so that the automatic transactionprocessing unit will then automatically recognize this and configureitself to receive the remaining financial transaction data from a userafter the IC card is inserted into the automatic transaction processingunit. If an individual user enters all of the transaction processingdata in advance into his IC card, a reliable entry of this data into theautomatic transaction processing unit occurs by merely inserting the ICcard thereinto. If a user enters only a portion of the data necessaryfor a transaction processing into his IC card, the automatic transactionprocessing unit will, upon insertion of the IC card therein recognizeand read what has been entered into the IC card and then operate toreceive the remaining data necessary to complete a financial transactionfrom the user at the data entry means of the automatic transactionprocessing unit.

In either case, whether a transaction is processed automatically by theautomatic transaction processing unit because all financial data waspreviously entered into the IC card, or in the case where a portion ofthe IC card data has been entered and the remainder must be entered intothe data entry means of the automatic transaction processing unit, theoperating efficiency of the automatic transaction processing unit isincreased. In each case at least a portion of the data has beenpre-entered and pre-checked by the customer before he arrives at theautomatic data transaction processing unit and to that extent the amountof time required to complete a transaction at the automatic transactionprocessing unit is decreased, thus improving efficiency. Moreover, datasuch as an identification code number and the amount of money handled onthe transaction can be input into the IC card in advance so that thereis no fear of the identification code number or other entered data beingseen by others at the automatic transaction processing unit, thusimproving security of the overall system.

The entry of all financial transaction data into the IC card prior toarrival at an automatic transaction processing unit has the advantage ofmaximally reducing the amount of time required for a customer to bepresent at the automatic transaction processing unit. However, if allnecessary transaction processing data is entered into the IC card inadvance, it is impossible to decide or change the contents of thetransaction at the time of the transaction. In addition, if the IC cardis lost after data entry, it can be used in unauthorized manner by thefinder by merely inserting it into the automatic transaction processingunit. For this reason, entry of only a portion of the financial datainto the IC card prior to a user visiting the automatic transactionprocessing unit may be desirable. In the latter system the remainder ofthe required data not entered at the IC card is entered directly intothe automatic transaction processing unit, whereby it is possible toprovide freedom to enable the user to decide or change the operation ofa financial transaction at the time of the transaction and also toinsure to a greater degree safety and integrity of a customer's account.

In view of the foregoing, one object of the invention is to provide anIC card transaction system when at least a portion of the data necessaryfor processing a financial transaction is entered and stored in advanceinto the IC card so that when the IC card is presented to an automatictransaction processing unit the IC card data is read and used by theunit to process a transaction thereat.

Another object of the invention is to provide an IC card transactionsystem of the type described above and which generally employs aconventional automatic transaction processing unit, modified to read anduse data stored in an IC card pertaining to a transaction. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an IC financial transaction cardwhich contains a program of processing procedures associated with entryand display of transaction data into the IC card, a storage means, dataentry means for entering data necessary for a financial transaction intothe storage means, and data display means for displaying the entereddata.

Another object of the invention is to provide an IC card transactionsystem employing an automatic transaction processing unit forcommunicating with the card wherein the terminal includes data readingmeans for reading out the financial transaction data stored in the card,and transaction processing means for performing a financial transactionusing data read from the card.

Another object of the invention is to provide an IC card transactionsystem as described in the preceeding paragraph wherein the automaticprocessing unit is arranged, depending on whether the IC card containsall of the data necessary for a transaction or only a part thereof, tocompletely carry out the transaction without any additional data beingrequired, where all necessary transaction data has been entered andpre-stored in the IC card, or to receive additional transactionprocessing data from the user which is entered directly into theautomatic transaction processing unit, where all necessary transactiondata has not been pre-stored in the IC card.

Another object of the invention is to provide an IC card and anassociated automatic transaction processing unit, the latter of whichincludes a transaction terminal detecting means for detectingtermination of a transaction and data erasing means responsive to theoutput of the transaction termination detection means for erasing aportion of the data stored in the IC card. Such erased data may includea secret number data previously entered by a user.

Another object of the invention is to provide an IC card transactionsystem in which the IC card includes a storage area for storing anentered effective time period concerning the data necessary for afinancial transaction, and in which an automatic transaction processingunit includes a reading means for reading out the effective time perioddata stored in the card, and a means for using the effective time perioddata to determine whether the transaction is being performed within theeffective time period entered into the IC card. If the time period iswithin that specified by the data within the IC card, the transaction isallowed to proceed, otherwise it cannot.

Another object of the invention is to provide an IC card transactionsystem in which an automatic transaction processing unit reads data fromthe IC card and determines whether all of the financial processing datanecessary to compute a financial transaction has been entered thereinand, if not, elicits this data from a customer. When the customer entersthe missing financial transaction data, the unit then completestransaction processing.

The above described objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will be more readily understood from the following detaileddescription of the various embodiments thereof which are presented inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the present invention will be described inconnection with FIGS. 1 through 13 which illustrate one embodiment ofthe invention wherein all of the data necessary for a transaction isentered prior to a user visiting an automatic transaction processingterminal, and FIGS. 14 through 20 which illustrate to another embodimentof the invention wherein a portion of the data necessary for atransaction is entered prior to a user visiting an automatic transactionprocessing terminal.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an electrical structure ofan integrated circuit card used in a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 integrated circuit card of;

FIG. 3 is a memory map of the FIG 1 integrated circuit card;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram explaining a transaction data storing operationfor the FIG 1 integrated circuit card;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing an electric structure of anautomatic transaction processing unit for use with the FIG. 1 integratedcircuit card;

FIG. 6 is a memory map of the processing unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram explaining a transaction data reading operationfor the FIG. 5 processing unit;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram explaining a transaction processing at the FIG.5 processing unit;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram explaining a modified transaction processing atthe FIG. 5 processing unit;

FIG. 10 is a memory map of a modified integrated circuit card;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram explaining a transaction data storingoperation of a modified integrated circuit card;

FIG. 12 is a memory map of a transaction processing unit for use with amodified integrated circuit card;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram explaining a transaction processing of atransaction processing unit which uses the modified integrated circuitcard;

FIG. 14(A) and 14(B) show the external appearance of an IC card used inan IC card transaction system in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present invention, FIG. 14(A) showing the obverse surface of thecard, and FIG. 14(B) showing the reverse surface of the card;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a control section in the IC card of theFIG. 14 embodiment; ROM and a RAM which are incorporated in the FIG. 14IC

FIG. 16 shows a part of the arrangement of a mask programmed card;

FIG. 17 show the external appearance of an ATM used with the FIG. 14 ICcard;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a control section in the FIG. 17 ATM;

FIGS. 19(A), 19(B) and 19(C) are flow charts showing the operation ofthe control section in the FIG. 14 IC card; and

FIGS. 20(A) and 20(B) are flow charts showing the operation of thecontrol section in the FIG. 17 ATM.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a block diagram of an ICcard employed in a first embodiment of the present invention, while FIG.2 illustrates the external appearance of the card.

The IC card 10 has the same size and configuration as a conventionalmagnetic card such as a cash card and a credit card, and contains atleast an IC memory such as a read only memory 3 and a random accessmemory 4, an integrated circuit central processing unit 2, a pluralityof, usually eight, contacts 14 for communicating with a terminal, adisplay 5, a keyboard 6, a battery 7 and an input/output port 1. In aconventional magnetic card, storage capacity is rather small and it iseasy to decode stored information. The feature of the IC card used inthe invention is that, as compared with a conventional magnetic card, ithas a large storage capacity and security is excellent because storedinformation can be made so that it is not easily decoded by others, byusing a program which can not be easily read out.

Referring again to FIG. 1, an input/output port 1 having an input/outputline terminal 8 is connected through a data bus 9 to a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 2, a read only memory (ROM) 3, a random accessmemory (RAM) 4, a display 5 and a keyboard 6. Electric power is suppliedfrom a battery 7 to the input/output port 1, the central processing unit2, the read only memory 3, the random access memory 4, the display 5 andthe keyboard 6. The input/output port 1 is used for communicating withan automatic transaction processing unit, also referred to herein as aterminal, (see FIG. 5), for processing a financial transaction. The ROM3 stores fixed data relating to transaction processing, such as an IDnumber, a bank number, a branch number, an account number and aneffective time period, and a program for transaction processing. The RAM4 stores data necessary for each transaction, such as a secret numberand transaction amount. The keyboard 6 is used for entering the datanecessary for each transaction into the RAM 4. The display 5 displaysthe entered data to a user.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an IC card which may be used in thefirst embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the ICcard body 10 has on a front surface panel a power switch 11, a keyboard12 (also schematically shown in FIGS. 1 as 6) including a plurality oftouch keys, a liquid crystal display 13 (also schematically shown as 5in FIG. 1) and a plurality of electrical contacts 14. The power switch11 is used for supplying power to each of constituent elements of the ICcard shown in FIG. 1. The keyboard 12 is used for entering the datanecessary for transaction processing into the IC card so that the datais stored in the RAM 4. The liquid crystal display 13 displays the abovedescribed entered data to a user. The contacts 14 are used forelectrically connecting the IC card to the terminal when the IC card isinserted thereinto.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of the IC card which comprisesa storage region in read only memory 3 and a storage region in randomaccess memory 4. The storage region in the ROM 3 comprises a programstorage area, an ID number storage area, a bank number storage area, abranch number storage area, an account number storage area, and aneffective time period storage area. The storage region in the RAM 4comprises a secret number storage area, a deposit (credit) storage area,a payment storage area, a transaction number storage area, abank-to-be-transferred area, an account-to-be-transferred area, and atransfer amount area.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram explaining a specific operation program forentering transaction information and storing the same into the IC card,prior to transaction processing, the program being stored in the ROM 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a specific operation of the IC card when thetransaction data is entered will be described. In the flow diagram ofFIG. 4, the IC card has data entered and stored representing the kind oftransaction (referred to as "a transaction number" hereinafter), asecret number, and a transaction amount prior to transaction processing.

Before going to a bank or credit company at which a client has anaccount, he enters into his IC card the above described transactiondata, that is, the transaction number, the secret number, and thetransaction amount whenever and wherever he wishes to do so. To enterthis data the customer first turns on a power switch 11 of the IC card(step S1). As a result, power is supplied from the battery 7 to each ofconstituent elements of the IC card shown in FIG. 1. Then, the customeroperates the keyboard 12 to enter into the card a desired transactionnumber, that is, a number representing the kind of transaction desired(step S2). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the transaction number1 denotes a payment processing, the transaction number 2 denotes adeposit processing, and the transaction 3 denotes a transfer processing.The selected transaction number is stored in the transaction numberstorage area in the RAM 4 (step S3). In addition, the following dataentering and storing operations are performed, based on the programcorresponding to the selected transaction number which is stored inprogram storage area of the ROM 3.

If and when the customer selects the transaction number 1 (payment) (asdetermined in step S4), he then enters his secret number using thekeyboard 12 (step S5). The secret number is stored in the secret numberstorage area of the RAM 4 (FIG. 3) in the IC card (step S6).Subsequently, the customer further enters an amount of payment using thekeyboard 12 (step S7). The data of the payment amount is stored in thepayment storage area of the RAM 4 (step S8). As a result, the storing oftransaction data for a payment transaction processing is completed andthen the power supply of the IC card is automatically turned off (stepS9).

If and when the transaction number 2 (deposit) is selected (asdetermined in step S10), the customer enters an amount of deposit usingthe keyboard 12. The entered amount data is stored in the depositstorage area of the RAM 4 (step S12). As a result, the transaction datastorage for a deposit transaction processing is completed, and then thepower supply of the IC card is automatically turned off (step S13).

If and when the transaction number 3 (transfer) is selected (asdetermined in step S14), the customer first enters his secret number byusing the keyboard 12 (step S15). The secret number is stored in thesecret number storage area of the RAM 4 (step S16). Subsequently, thecustomer enters the bank number to be transferred and the account numberthereof by using the keyboard 12 (step S17). Such data is also stored inthe corresponding areas of the RAM 4 (step S18). In addition, thecustomer enters an amount of the transfer using the keyboard 12 (stepS19). The amount data is also stored in the transfer amount area of theRAM 4 (step S20). As a result, storing of the data relating to atransfer transaction processing is completed and then the power supplyof the IC card is automatically turned off (step S21). As the data isentered by the keyboard 12 it is also displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 13, so that the customer can confirm whether the entered data iscorrect or not.

As described in the foregoing, a transaction number, a secret number,and a transaction amount can be securely stored in advance in the ICcard, prior to transaction processing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing an electric structure of anautomatic transaction processing unit, also called a terminal forcommunicating with the IC card shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Referring to FIG.5, an IC card reader 15 is used for communication with the IC card 10through the input/output port 1 and the contacts 14 of an IC cardinserted therein. A cathode ray tube (CRT) 16 displays procedures of atransaction and the like to a customer. A keyboard 17 is used by acustomer to communicate with the terminal, if necessary. A slip issuingmachine 18 receives permission of payment from a processing center andissues a slip. A paper receiving portion 19 includes unit for receivingpapers, e.g. bank notes, the customer inserts on deposit and by countingthe number thereof. A paper discharging portion 20 includes a unit fordischarging papers, e.g. bank notes, to the customer. A bankbookprinting portion 21 prints the transaction record on the enteredbankbook when the bankbook is inserted into the terminal together withthe IC card. Each of the units 15 . . . 21 is connected to a controlunit 22 through internal dots buses, so that the control unit 22 cancontrol the operation of these units. In addition, the control unit 22is also connected to a central processing unit of a processing center(not shown) for each bank through a line control 23 and input/outputterminal 24.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a memory map of the FIG. 5 terminal for usewith an IC card, while FIG. 7 is a flow diagram explaining a specificreading operation of the IC card which occurs when the IC card isinserted into the terminal.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the reading operation of the IC card will bedescribed. Reading of the IC card is performed by means of half duplexcommunication system, which is the same as communication between aterminal and a center CPU.

First, an IC card having the construction described above with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 4 is entered into the terminal shown in FIG. 5 andinstalled, for example, in a bank (step S22). Then, electric power issupplied to each of the constituent elements of the IC card shown inFIG. 1 and the CPU 2 generates a card insert command based on theprogram stored in the ROM 3 and transmits the command to the IC cardreader 15 of the terminal through the input/output port 1 (step S23).Upon receipt of the command by the terminal (step S24), the terminalgenerates an ID number request command and transmits the same to the ICcard (step S25). Then, in the IC card, the central processing unit 2receiving the ID number request command from the terminal (step S26)transmits the ID number stored in the storage region of the ROM 3, shownin FIG. 3, to the IC card reader 15 of the terminal through theinput/output port 1 (step S27). The terminal receives this ID number(step S28) and generates a bank number request command and transmits thesame to the IC card (step S29). Then, in the IC card, the centralprocessing unit 2 receiving the bank number request command from theterminal through the input/output port 1 (step S30) transmits the banknumber stored in the storage region of the ROM 3 as shown in FIG. 3 tothe IC card reader 15 of the terminal which is turn receives such banknumber (step S32) and generates an effective time period data requestcommand and transmits the same to the IC card (step S33). Then, in theIC card, the CPU 2 receiving the effective time period data requestingcommand from the terminal and transmits the effective time period datastored in the storage region of the ROM 3 as shown in FIG.. 3 to the ICcard reader of the terminal through the input/output port 1 (steps S35and S36).

As described in the foregoing, the fixed data relating to transaction,which is stored in the ROM 3 in the IC card, is first read out by theterminal. Then, the terminal generates a RAM storage contents requestingcommand for requesting the transaction data stored in advance in the RAM4 in accordance with the respective programs and transmits the same tothe IC card (step S37). Correspondingly, in the IC card, the centralprocessing unit 2 receiving the RAM storage contents requesting commandfrom the terminal through the input/output port 1 (step S38) transmitsthe RAM storage contents stored in the storage region of the RAM 4 asshown in FIG. 3, that is, the transaction data such as transactionnumber, a secret number, a transaction amount and abank-to-be-transferred, to the IC card reader 1 of the terminal throughthe input/output port 1 (steps S39 and S40). The IC card completes itsrole by transmitting the RAM storage contents to the terminal and thenits power supply is turned off in accordance with the program end, uponcompletion of transaction processing, the IC card is returned to thecustomer from the terminal (step S41).

FIGS. 8(A) and 8(B) depicts a flow diagram explaining a specifictransaction processing operation of the terminal from insertion of theIC card to termination of transaction processing.

Now, referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, a specific transaction processing of theterminal of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

An IC card is first inserted into the terminal by a customer (step S42),and the data relating to a transaction is read out from the ROM 3 andRAM 4 (steps S43 and S44). The terminal first confirms the fixed datainherent to the specific bank, such as ID number, a bank number, andeffective time period data read out from the ROM 3 (steps S45, S46 andS47) and if and when any inconsistency occurs, the content stored in theRAM 4 of the IC card is erased (step S48) and the IC card is returned tothe customer (step S49). If and when all of the requirements aresatisfied, a transaction processing is performed in accordance with apredetermined kind of requested transaction.

If and when the customer sets in advance a transaction number 1(payment) (step S50), it is determined whether the secret number readout from the RAM 4 of the IC card is correct or not (step S51). Ifcorrect, the terminal transmits to the CPU of the center for each bankthe transaction data read out from the ROM 3 and RAM 4 of the IC card(step S51). In response to the data as transmitted to the center, thecenter retrieves and renews the corresponding file and provides aninstruction of permission for payment to the terminal. Upon receipt ofthis instruction (step S53), the terminal instructs a slip issuingmachine 18 to issue a payment slip and instructs the paper dischargingportion 20 to discharge the necessary papers, e.g. bank notes, to theclient (step S54). After completion of payment to a customer, thecontents stored in the RAM 4 of the IC card are erased for security(step S55) and the IC card is returned to the customer in accordancewith the program (step S56) and then the transaction is completed.

If and when the customer presets in advance a transaction number 2(deposit) (step S57), the customer inserts papers, e.g. bank notes, tobe deposited to the paper receiving portion 19 (step S58). The paperreceiving portion 19 counts the number of the papers (step S59) anddetermines whether the counted amount coincides with the amount storedin advance in the RAM 4 of the IC card (step S60). If these amountscoincide with each other, the terminal transmits to the center CPU ofthe bank the transaction data read out from the ROM 3 and RAM 4 of theIC card (step S61). Thus, the center retrieve and renews thecorresponding file in accordance with the transmitted data. As a result,a deposit transaction processing is terminated and then the content oftransaction stored in the RAM 4 of the IC card is erased (step S62) andthe IC card is returned to the customer in accordance with the program(step S63).

If and when the customer presets the transaction number 3 (transfer)(step S64), it is determined whether the secret number read out from theRAM 4 of the IC card is correct or not (step S65). If correct, theterminal transmits to the center CPU of the bank the transaction dataread out from the ROM 3 and RAM 4 of the IC card (step S66). The centerCPU communicates with the bank to be transferred and the account numberthereof, and an amount of transfer which are entered in advance. As aresult, the transfer transaction is completed (step S67), and thecontent of the transaction stored in the RAM 4 of the IC card is erased(step S68) and the IC card is returned to the customer in accordancewith the program (step S69).

As described in the foregoing, in accordance with the first describedembodiment of the invention, a transaction number, a secret number and atransaction amount, which are entered through the terminal intransaction processing in a conventional system, can be securely enteredin advance into an IC card, so that a customer can keep details of atransaction secret. Particularly, if the transaction number is set as adeposit or transfer, an unfair user can not use the IC card for thepurpose of payment and hence good security is obtained. In addition, anoperating time period when a customer can handle or operate a terminalcan be set to a low value and hence efficiency of transaction processingcan be improved.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram explaining a transaction processing of aterminal for use with an IC card, which is a modified embodiment of thepresent invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is the same as thefinancial transaction processing system as described referring to FIGS.1 to 8, except for the following points.

Whereas in the steps S55, S62 and S68 of FIG. 8, the storage contents ofthe RAM 4 of the IC card are all erased, in flow diagram of FIG. 9, onlya secret number is erased in the steps S70 and S71, instead of the stepsS60 and S68, and erasing the storage contents of the RAM 4 in the stepS62 is not performed.

If and when a customer sets in advance a transaction number 1 (payment)(step S50), only the secret number stored in the RAM 4 of the IC card iserased for safety in response to a command from a terminal when paymentprocessing to a customer is completed (step S70) and the IC card isreturned to a customer in accordance with the program (step S56) and thetransaction is completed.

If and when a customer sets in advance a transaction number 2 (deposit)(step S57), the transaction contents stored in the RAM 4 of IC card arenever erased after the completion of deposit transaction and the IC cardis returned to a customer in accordance with a program (step S63) and atransaction is completed.

If and when a customer sets in advance a transaction number 3 (transfer)(step S64), only a secret number out of the transaction contents storedin the RAM 4 of the IC card is erased, for safety, in response to acommand from the terminal (step S71), after completion of transfertransaction (step S67), and the IC card is returned to a customer inaccordance with a program (step S69) and the transaction is completed.

As described in the foregoing, in accordance with the modifiedembodiment, after completion of transaction, a secret number stored inthe IC card can be erased, so that unauthorized use can be prevented,while a transaction record relating to transaction amount and the likecan be left in the IC card.

FIG. 10 is a memory map of an IC card of another modified embodiment ofthe present invention, while FIG. 11 is a flow diagram explaining atransaction data storing operation of the IC card having the FIG 10memory map, FIG. 12 is a memory map of a terminal for communicating withthe IC card, and FIG. 13 is a flow diagram explaining a transactionprocessing of the terminal using an IC card having the FIG. 10 memorymap.

The modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 is the same as thefinancial transaction processing system shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, exceptfor the following points.

As shown in the step S72 of FIG. 11, a customer also sets a secondeffective time period and enters the data thereof into the IC card.Meanwhile, the effective time described with reference to FIGS. 1-8 as afixed data is now referred to as a first effective time period. Thesecond effective time period is determined based on the time intervalfrom the time of the data entrance to the arrival at a bank. That is,first the expected time when a transaction will be completed is set asthe first effective time period and then the second effective timeperiod is set so that it lapses at a time after completion of thetransaction should have taken place. As shown in FIG. 10, the secondeffective time period is stored in the storage region of the RAM 4 ofthe IC card (step S73).

In case where a transaction processing is performed using an IC card inwhich the above described second effective time period is stored, it isfirst determined in the terminal whether the time when the transactionin question is being performed is within the first time period (stepS47) and if so the terminal next determines if the transaction is beingperformed in the second effective time period stored in the RAM 4 of theIC card (step S74 of FIG. 13). If and when the second effective timeperiod has already lapsed, the contents stored in the RAM 4 of the ICcard are erased (step S48) and the IC card is returned to a customer(step S49). If and when the second effective time period has not alreadylapsed, a transaction processing is performed in accordance with thekind of transaction as set in advance.

As described in the foregoing, in accordance with the presentembodiment, security for transaction can be increased by setting thedesired effective time period, because even if the IC card happens to bein the possession of an unauthorized user through theft, loss and thelike, the unfair use can not be realized if the effective time periodlapses.

Although in the above described embodiments, a transaction number, asecret number, and a transaction amount have been stored in advance inthe IC card, it is also possible to have the IC store only a transactionnumber prior to transaction processing and then to enter the secretnumber and transaction amount by using the data entry device of theautomatic transaction processing terminal at the time of transactionprocessing. It is also possible to have the IC card store a secretnumber and a transaction amount prior to the transaction processing andthen a transaction number entered at an automatic transaction processingterminal at the time of the transaction. These variations will bedescribed in greater detail below with respect to the system illustratedin FIGS. 14 through 20.

FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B) respectively show the external appearance of theobverse and reverse surfaces of another IC card 101 which is used in anIC card transaction system in accordance with yet another embodiment ofthe present invention. The obverse surface of the IC card is providedwith a magnetic strip 116 which is used when a transaction is processedwith a conventional magnetic card reader/writer. An LSI (large scaleintegrated) circuit 110 which includes a microcomputer is incorporatedinside the card and in the vicinity of the magnetic strip. Contacts 111,which are used to exchange data with the IC card reader/writer of theautomatic transaction processing unit, are provided on the obversesurface of the card at the position where the LSI is incorporated, and aflat plate-shaped battery 115 is incorporated inside the card and at thelower side thereof.

The reverse surface of IC card 101 is provided with an LCD dot matrixdisplay 112 and a keyboard 113. The display 112 consists of displaysections for 110 characters, each character display section consistingof 5×7 LCD dots. The display 112 displays brief guidance informationcorresponding to each operation step executed by the user, such asinputting data, etc. The IC card 101, when not used as a card for afinancial transaction, can also be used as a card-type calculator inwhich case the display 112 displays registered numbers and results of acalculation.

The keyboard 113 comprises at least an ON/OFF key, a CE/C key, tennumerical keys, an =/ENT key, four arithmetic operation keys, a YES key,a NO key, etc. These keys are employed to enter transaction processingdata and also to execute calculations when the IC card is employed as acalculator.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the internal control section of the ICcard 101. The LSI circuit 110 comprises a CPU 200, a mask programmed ROM201, a controller 202 for the contacts 111, and an LCD driver 203 forcontrolling the display 112. The contacts 111 are connected to thecontroller 202, and the display 112 is connected to the LCD driver 203.The keyboard 113 and an external RAM 114 are connected to the CPU 200.The RAM 114 is backed up by the battery 115.

FIG. 16 shows a part of the data storage arrangement of the maskprogrammed ROM 201 and the RAM 114. In the mask programmed ROM 201 areset a control program (M1) and a key code table (M2) that stores thecontents of a selected processing function corresponding to a numericalvalue input through the keyboard 113. In the RAM 114 is stored card data(M3) consisting of a bank code (M30), a branch code (M31), an accountnumber (M32), an identification code number (M33), a savings balance(M34) and an effective code (M35). Further, 100 records (M4) in thehistory of transactions conducted with the IC card are stored in the RAM114. When the user selects a transaction history display function byactuating the keyboard 113, the transaction history data can bedisplayed on the display 112. The RAM 114 is further provided with atransaction processing data storage area (M5) for storing necessarytransaction processing data used on a transaction which is to beconducted next. The transaction processing data storage area (M5)consists of an area (M50) for storing the amount of money involved in atransaction, an area (M51) for storing the kind of a particulartransaction, an area (M52) for storing the code of a transferdestination, and an area (M53) for storing the name of a transferdestination, and an area (M54) for storing the date of transfer. Datawhich is required for a particular transaction (receipt, payment,transfer, etc.) is stored exclusively in memory area (M5).

FIG. 17 shows the external appearance of an automatic transactionprocessing unit in the form of an ATM 102 which is used with the IC carddepicted in FIGS. 14-16. The ATM 102 has a vertical control panel on itsfront side, the control panel being provided with an IC card insertionopening 212 for inserting the IC card 101, a bankbook insertion opening122 and a magnetic card insertion opening 123. The horizontal controlpanel of the ATM is provided with a bank not receiving and payingopening 124, a CRT 125, and a coin receiving and paying opening 127. TheCRT 125 is used to guide and display the functioning of the ATM, e.g.the operating procedure and the like, and also displays input keys whichare to be depressed by a customer. A transparent touch panel switch 126is installed on the surface of the CRT 125 for detecting the depressionof various keys which are displayed on the CRT 125.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of the control section of the FIG. 17 ATM. Toa CPU 128 of the ATM 102 are connected a ROM 129 storing programs andthe like, a RAM 130 storing data and the like, and an interface 131. Tothe interface 131 are connected a display deice 132 including the CRT125, a touch panel unit 133 including the touch panel switch 126, an ICcard reader/writer 134 which exchanges data and the like with an IC cardinserted into the IC card insertion opening, 121, a magnetic card reader135 which reads and writes data in relation to a magnetic card insertedinto the magnetic card insertion opening 123, a bank note processingsection 136 which processes the receipt and payment of bank notes, acoin processing section 137 which processes the receipt and payment ofcoins, a bank processing section 138 which prints results oftransactions on bankbooks or slips, and a communication control section139 for communication with a center processing unit.

FIGS. 19(A), 19(B) and 19(C) depict a flow chart showing the operationof the control section in the IC card 101.

FIG. 19(A) shows a processing content selecting operation. When theON/OFF key of the keyboard 113 is depressed, power is supplied to theLSI 110, and the IC card 101 first operates as a calculator and isstarted (for FIGS. 19 and 20 the processing steps are shown as step n1:"Step ni" will hereinafter be referred to as "ni"). Next, when the OPENkey is depressed (2), the display 112 is instructed to request the userto enter his identification code number in order to permit acceptance oftransaction processing data (n3). The identification code number isentered (n4), and a determination is made (n5) as to whether or not theentered code number is coincident with the identification code number(M33) which has been stored in the card data storage (M3). If NO, theprocess proceeds to a step (n6), where a determination is made as towhether or not this identification code number entry error is the thirdby making reference to the effective code storage area (M35). Theeffective code is a number which represents the number of times ofsuccessive occurrences of an identification code number entry error. Ifthe identification code number entry has occurred three or more times,the card function is locked and processing is finished (n7). If theidentification code number entry error has not yet occurred three times,"ERROR" is displayed on the display 112 (n8), and after a confirmationentry (depression of the YES key) has been made by the user (n9), theprocess returns to n3. When it is confirmed in n5 that the enteredidentification code number is coincident with the stored one, theprocess proceeds to n10, where the mode is changed to the transactioncode mode, and the display 112 is instructed to request the user toenter data for selecting a desired transaction (n11). After the input ofthe transaction code has been made (n12), the input transaction code ischecked in n13. If there is no corresponding transaction code, theprocess returns to n11 in order to request the user to enter the codeagain, whereas, when there is a corresponding transaction code, theprocess proceeds to a step of performing a transaction processing datareceiving operation.

FIG. 19(B) shows a transaction processing data receiving operation whichis carried out when a transfer transaction is selected. First, thedisplay 112 is instructed to request the user to confirm the selectedtransfer transaction in n20, and a confirmation entry is received fromthe user in n21. When the YES key is depressed by the user, the processproceeds to n23 and further to the steps following it, whereas, when theNO key is depressed, the process returns to n11 (n22).

The display 112 is instructed to request the user to enter the amount ofmoney desired to be transferred in n23, and an entry receptionsubroutine for controlling the entry of the amount of money to betransferred is executed in n24. This subroutine will be described laterwith reference to FIG. 19(C). Next, the display 112 is instructed torequest the user to enter the destination of the transfer and the dateof the transfer and the entry reception subroutine is executed in asimilar manner (n25 to n28), and finally, a transfer fee is displayed(n29). After the confirmation with respect to the displayed transfer feehas been entered (n30 and n31), the entered data are stored in thetransaction processing data storage area (M6) and the operation is thuscompleted. If the NO key is depressed in n30, the process proceeds ton31, and when NO is the answer of the decision made in n31, the processreturns to n11, where the entry of data is made again.

FIG. 19(C) shows the entry reception subroutine. The process stands byuntil depression of one of the numeral keys is detected in n41. If thenumeral keys are depressed, the input numerical value is buffered in aregister buffer (n42), and the process then returns to the stand-byroutine.

On the other hand, when the ENT key is depressed, a decision is made(n43) as to whether or not a registered numerical value has been storedin the register buffer. When the registered numerical value has beenstored, this numerical value is stored as transaction processing data ina transaction processing data buffer which temporarily storestransaction processing data, and the register buffer is cleared (n44).When no numerical value has been input to the register buffer, thismeans that the transaction processing data is not being entered but isbeing skipped. More specifically, the called-for input transactionprocessing data which is not entered is determined to be data which isto be directly entered later at the automatic transaction processingunit, and a skip code (e.g., "x") is stored in the transactionprocessing data buffer (n45). Next, the decided input data is displayedin n46, and a confirmation entry by the user is received (n47). If theuser depresses the YES key, indicating confirmation, the process returnsto the main routine, whereas, if the NO key is depressed, indicating noconfirmation, the buffered data is cleared in n44, and the processreturns to the stand-by routine including steps n40 and n41. It shouldbe noted that the transaction processing data buffer has an arrangementsimilar to the transaction processing data storage area (M5), and thestored contents are moved in n32.

FIG. 20(A) is a flow chart showing the operation of the control sectionin the ATM 102. The process stands by until the IC card 101 is insertedin n51 or any of the keys are depressed in n52. When it is determined inn51 that the IC card 101 is inserted, the process proceeds to n54 andthe steps following it to execute various transaction processingoperations. More specifically, the card data and transaction selectingsubroutine (n55) are executed on the basis of the buffered transactionprocessing data and the like, and the process then branches off to aselected transaction processing operation in n56. A transfer transactionprocessing operation will be explained below. In the transfertransaction processing operation, an identification code inputsubroutine (n57), a transferred money setting subroutine (n58), atransfer destination setting subroutine (n59) and a transfer data inputsubroutine (n60) are executed. The transfer transaction processing isexecuted on the basis of the transaction processing data set in thesesubroutines.

FIG. 20(B) is a flow chart showing the steps executed in each of theabove-mentioned subroutines (n57 . . . n60). First, a determination ismade (n66) as to whether or not the corresponding transaction processingdata has been previously stored in the IC card and from there into theautomatic transaction processing unit in step n54, by making referenceto the buffer into which the transaction processing data on the card hasbeen read in n65. For example, for subroutine n57, a determination ismade on whether the ID code is stored in the buffer. When thepredetermined data has been stored in the buffer, this data is set astransaction processing data used in the relevant subroutine (n68), andthe process then returns to the main routine. On the other hand, whenthe corresponding transaction processing data has not been stored in thebuffer indicating that it is to be entered at the terminal unit, therequired data is then entered by depressing the keys displayed on theCRT 125, and is received in n67, and the entered data is set as thecorresponding transaction processing data (n68) and the process thenreturns to the main routine.

The keyboard 113 and steps n23 to n28, together with the subroutineshown in FIG. 19(C), correspond to the transaction processing datareceiving means according to the present invention, and the RAM 114 andstep n32 correspond in combination to the transaction processing datastorage means. Further, steps n54 and n65 correspond in combination tothe transaction processing data read means and step n67 corresponds tothe input data receiving means according to the present invention forreceiving transaction data not previously stored in the transactionprocessing data storage means.

As evident from the foregoing, the IC card transaction system inaccordance with the described embodiments of the invention enables adesired part of, or all of, the data required for an individualtransaction processing to be pre-stored in an IC card in advance. Withthe invention, it is possible to insert the IC card into an automatictransaction processing unit and if all financial transaction data hasbeen previously entered into the card to immediately carry out thefinancial transaction in accordance with the data read out from the ICcard. It is also possible to omit certain data entry operations whichare necessary for a financial transaction when entering data into thecard so that when the card is inserted into the automatic transactionprocessing terminal, the missing data is elicited from the customers bythe terminal and entered through a corresponding data entry device atthe terminal unit. With the invention, it is possible to reduce the timerequired for completing a transaction at the terminal since at least aportion, if not all, of the financial transaction data has beenpreviously entered into the card prior to a customer arriving at theterminal. Thus, it is possible to improve the operating efficiency ofthe automatic transaction processing unit and minimize entry problems.

Still further, since it is possible that only a desired part of theneeded transaction processing data is stored in the IC card in advance,if an IC card having only a portion of the data therein is lost, afinder of the card cannot improperly use it since entry of additionalnecessary transaction processing data is still required.

Moreover, since the IC card may be provided with an LCD display andinclude 100 records stored in the memory as transaction history data onthe display 112 by actuating predetermined keys of the IC card.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is apparent that many modifications can be made theretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the foregoing description,but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A financial transaction processing system comprising:(a) anintegrated circuit card for use in transaction processing, comprising:first storing means for storing at least a portion of the data necessaryfor executing a financial transaction; second storing means forcontaining a program of data processing procedures; data entering meansfor entering at least a portion of the data necessary for execution ofsaid financial transaction into said first storing means; third storingmeans for storing data concerning a preset first effective time periodfor executing said financial transaction, said first effective timeperiod data being entered into said third storing means by said dataentering means in advance of using said integrated circuit card fortransaction processing; fourth storing means for storing data relatingto a variable second effective time period for executing said financialtransaction, said variable second effective time period being enteredinto said fourth storing means by said data entry means; data displaymeans for displaying said entered data; and data processing meansconnected to said first storing means for processing said entered datain accordance with said program stored in said second storing meansprior to financial transaction processing; and (b) terminal means forcommunicating with said integrated circuit card, comprising: datareading means for reading out the data stored in said first storingmeans; means for reading said first effective time period stored in saidthird storing means and said second effective time period stored in saidfourth storing means; effective time period detecting means fordetecting if the time when said financial transaction is performed iswithin said preset first effective time period and said variable secondeffective time period; said data reading means being responsive to theoutput of said effective time period detecting means for reading thedata stored in said first storing means; and transaction processingmeans for executing said financial transaction using said read data tocomplete a financial transaction processing.
 2. A financial transactionprocessing system as in claim 1, wherein said terminal means furthercomprises means for entering additional data necessary for execution ofthe financial transaction processing which was not stored in said firststoring means, said transaction processing means executing saidfinancial transaction using said read data and additional data enteredat said means for entering additional data.
 3. A financial transactionprocessing system as in claim 1, whereinthe transaction data stored insaid first storing means includes at least one of an account number, asecret number, a designation of a type of transaction, and a transactionamount.
 4. A financial transaction processing system in accordance withclaim 1, whereinthe transaction data stored in said first storing meansincludes a transaction number designating a kind of transaction.
 5. Afinancial transaction processing system in accordance with claim 1,wherein said terminal means further comprisestransaction terminationdetecting means for detecting termination of the processing of saidfinancial transaction, and data erasing means responsive to the outputof said transaction termination detecting means for erasing at least aportion of the data stored in said first storing means.
 6. A financialtransaction processing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein thetransaction data stored in said first storing means includes a secretnumber which is erased by said data erasing means.
 7. A financialtransaction processing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidintegrated circuit card further comprises additional storing means forstoring a transaction record of a predetermined number of transactionsexecuted with said IC card.